Cincinnati Bengals–New England Patriots Trade History

Boston acquired Ken Herock from Cincinnati on August 14, 1969, with the stored return to Cincinnati listed as cash. Herock played six games for Boston in 1969 after Cincinnati waived him, giving the Patriots some low-cost roster value. In hindsight, the grades are C for Cincinnati Bengals and C+ for New England Patriots, producing a New England Patriots Win verdict. The modest scoring reflects the limited scale of the transaction.

Cincinnati sent linebacker Bill Peterson to New England for a future fourth-round selection that became No. 87 in 1974. The Bengals used the pick on Mike Boryla and later moved Boryla's rights for additional future compensation before he played for Cincinnati. Peterson did not provide New England comparable regular-season value, allowing the Bengals to preserve and redirect the more useful asset.

Cincinnati Bengals received cash in the exchange with New England Patriots. Cincinnati received cash consideration and avoided surrendering meaningful on-field value, enough for a narrow edge in a small transaction. Against the other side's return of David Lewis / Dave Lewis (a), that outcome supports a C+ grade. The transaction is ultimately judged as Cincinnati Bengals Win, with the grade reflecting realized football value rather than the name or nominal value of the asset on the trade date.

Cincinnati sent running back Doug Dressler to New England for a 1976 seventh-round choice used on quarterback Bob Bateman. Dressler’s Patriots stay lasted only five games before his season continued elsewhere, while Bateman did not become a regular-season Bengals contributor. Cincinnati recovered a draft asset and New England received brief veteran depth, but neither side generated lasting value.

Cincinnati acquired veteran defensive end Mel Lunsford from New England on June 19, 1981. The Patriots' official transaction history records the return as cash, while Bengals history describes an additional conditional future draft choice that would have been owed only if Lunsford made Cincinnati's regular-season roster. He did not, so no draft pick was conveyed and Lunsford produced no Bengals regular-season games.

Cincinnati sent the No. 1 pick in the 1984 draft to New England and received first-rounders No. 16 and No. 28, a tenth-rounder and a 1985 fifth. The Bengals landed Pete Koch and long-time lineman Brian Blados, while New England selected Irving Fryar first overall. Fryar's lengthy, high-end career gives the Patriots the advantage, but Cincinnati's haul had real value.

Cincinnati traded Corey Dillon to New England for the 56th pick and selected safety Madieu Williams. Williams became an immediate starter, recorded three interceptions as a rookie and spent four productive seasons with the Bengals. The return was legitimate, especially after Dillon's relationship with Cincinnati had deteriorated, but the player Cincinnati surrendered immediately became the centerpiece of a Super Bowl champion's rushing attack.

Cincinnati traded veteran receiver Chad Johnson to New England in 2011 for fifth- and sixth-round picks that became Marvin Jones and Cobi Hamilton. Johnson caught only 15 passes for 276 yards and one touchdown in his lone Patriots season before being released. Jones developed into a productive starting receiver for Cincinnati and later enjoyed a long NFL career. The Bengals turned an aging star into a younger impact player and won decisively.

New England moved from No. 27 to No. 21 for Chandler Jones, giving Cincinnati the No. 93 pick as the premium. Jones produced 36 sacks in four Patriots seasons and contributed to the Super Bowl XLIX championship before being traded in 2016. The return from that later trade helped New England acquire Joe Thuney and Malcolm Mitchell. Cincinnati still landed long-term starting guard Kevin Zeitler plus Brandon Thompson, making this a rare draft trade with major value on both sides.

Cincinnati traded linebacker Marquis Flowers to New England at the end of the 2017 preseason for a 2018 seventh-round pick. Flowers immediately became a useful Patriots reserve, playing all 16 games and recording 3.5 sacks before contributing during the team's run to Super Bowl LII. Cincinnati used pick No. 249 on quarterback Logan Woodside, but he never appeared in a regular-season game for the Bengals.

New England sent picks 46, 122 and 139 to Cincinnati to move up to No. 38 for Christian Barmore. Barmore has 15.5 sacks through five seasons, including an 8.5-sack breakout in 2023, and returned to start 16 games in 2025 after a serious medical issue limited 2024. Cincinnati's Jackson Carman, Tyler Shelvin and D'Ante Smith never produced comparable long-term value. The Patriots turned a three-for-one move into the only clear impact player.